Arabidopsis ring E3 ubiquitin ligase for promotion of plant germination

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition for enhancing non-biological stress resistance in plants and a composition for accelerating germination. A nucleotide sequence of the present invention is involved in the resistance against the drying stresses in plants, and a transformed plant in which the nucleotide sequence is overexpressed has prominent resistance against various kinds of non-biological stress, including drought stress. In addition, the nucleotide sequence of the present invention is involved in ABA hormone sensitivity in plants, and germination is greatly improved in a plant in which the nucleotide sequence expression is suppressed. Therefore, the composition of the present invention can be useful as new functional crops regardless of the climate of the cultivation area, or as seeds for long-term storage with an increased storage period.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for promoting germination of  Arabidopsis thaliana , the method comprising:
 (a) introducing into a cell of  Arabidopsis thaliana  a nucleic acid molecule capable of inhibiting the expression of a nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the nucleic acid molecule is T-DNA (transfer DNA) that is introduced into the nucleotide sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:1; 
 (b) obtaining, from the cell of the  Arabidopsis thaliana , a transgenic plant; and 
 (c) growing transgenic seed obtained from said transgenic plant in the presence of abscisic acid (ABA); 
 wherein the germination of the transgenic seed is improved relative to germination of wild type seed, when grown in the presence of ABA.